Flights & getting there

The vast majority of travellers arrive in Rwanda by air at Kigali, but it’s also possible to enter Rwanda overland via Uganda, Tanzania and even the DRC. The border with Burundi is unsafe.

Air

Given its small size, Rwanda is well connected to other major transport hubs in Africa, as well as a few European capitals.

Airports & Airlines

Rwanda has one international gateway for arrival by air, Kigali International Airport, which is located at Kanombe, 10km east of Kigali's city centre.

Brussels Airlines Operates six flights a week to/from Brussels (with onward connections to many European cities). Baggage can be checked in here on the day of departure between 10am and 1pm – very convenient as flights to Brussels leave at night.

Ethiopian Airlines Has two daily flights to/from Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) and good connections to elsewhere in Africa.

Trinity Express For the ultimate in long bus rides, this company sends buses to Dar es Salaam (Tanzania; RFr30,000; about 36 hours) at 4am. The bus stops for four hours in the middle of the night near Dodoma. It also operates seven daily buses to Kampala (Uganda; RFr10,000, nine hours).

Border Crossings

Rwanda has land borders with all four of its neighbouring countries.

Burundi

The main border crossing between Rwanda and Burundi is via Huye (Butare) and Kayanza, on the Kigali–Bujumbura road, which is sealed all the way. The border post is called Kayanza Haut. Although the border is open, this crossing is considered risky due to the unstable political situation in Burundi. Check the security situation in Burundi thoroughly beforehand.

Tanzania

Only one bus company, Trinity Express, operates cross-border buses to Tanzania and this goes all the way to Dar es Salaam. But doing it, as most people do, in stages is no great hassle, with a number of companies sending frequent buses to the border, after which you can get another bus to the tiny Tanzanian town of Benako (marked as Kasulo on some maps), about 20km southeast of the frontier. From here get a bus to the town of Biharamulo, where you'll probably have to overnight. The following day catch a bus to Mwanza or Bukoba. From Mwanza you can connect to Arusha.

The DRC

There are two crossings between Rwanda and the DRC; both are on the shores of Lake Kivu. To the north is the crossing between Gisenyi (Rubavu) and Goma. The southern border is between Cyangugu (Rusizi) and Bukavu. Providing the DRC remains politically stable and you have prearranged visas, the crossings are surprisingly straightforward, and you can walk across the borders directly from town to town.

Uganda

There are two main crossing points for foreigners: between Kigali and Kabale via Gatuna/Katuna (called Gatuna on the Rwandan side and Katuna on the Ugandan side); and between Musanze (Ruhengeri) and Kisoro via Cyanika.

There are direct buses between Kigali/Musanze and Gisenyi and Kampala. Buses also run between Kigali and the border at Gatuna (RFr1400, three hours) throughout the day. Plenty of shared taxis (USh4000) and special-hire taxis (USh20,000 for the whole car) travel back and forth between Katuna and Kabale.

From Musanze (Ruhengeri) to Kisoro via Cyanika, the road is in excellent shape on the Rwandan side and in rather poor condition on the Ugandan side. Minibuses link either side of the border with Musanze (from RFr480, 25km).

Subscribe

Get 20% off at our online shop.

I want emails from Lonely Planet with travel and product information, promotions, advertisements, third-party offers, and surveys. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. Contact Lonely Planet here. Lonely Planet Privacy Policy.